Make Way highballing in front in his trial at Menangle. He will be looking for the lead again on Saturday. PHOTO: Ashlea Brennan.
Ants: Make Way looking magnificent and his work points to big run on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 12 June 2020
Make Way has a slightly sticky draw at Menangle on Saturday night but will still be hard to beat, says leading horseman Anthony Butt.
The speedy four-year-old will line up at six on the gate in the opening event, an A$18,360 mile, and Butt says he’ll use the horse’s gate speed.
“We’ll come out and have a look. The favourite Motu Gatecrasher is in two and he’s got a bit of speed but we’ll go forward.
“He seems really good so I think he’ll be hard to beat.”
Trainer Sonya Smith elected to start Make Way this week, rather than wait for a more suitable 2300 metre race next Saturday, after the nominations showed he would slot in nicely into the second tier of free-for-allers.
Smith was expecting he might have to face tougher rivals on Saturday and, after his excellent trial win last week, was only too happy to start.
“His work has been really good since that trial,” says Butt. “He’s training as well as ever - and he looks magnificent in the coat.
“You’re always a bit sceptical how they’ll go after being gelded but he hasn’t missed a beat and his attitude has been really good. He’s been way better around the place.”
Butt says, on paper, Make Way is up to most in the field including Harry Martin’s Double Encounter who has drawn one inside him.
“It’s never easy at Menangle when you get up in grade but he’s made a good start to the season and he should be in for another good prep.
“There aren’t any features for the next couple of months but by October it will be full on and he will have a thousand options. There are good races in Melbourne and even Brisbane which has indicated it wants to take up the gap from the cancellation of the Interdominions in December.”
Make Way races at 6.57pm NZ time at Menangle on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
A picture of Bliss but poor Harry’s arms were nearly pulled out of their sockets
Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
